Notes and Queries, Number 61, December 28, 1850 eBook

to burst. The inhabitants, on learning the joyful
news, carried the knight and the Lindwurm in triumph
into the city of Bruenn, where they have ever since
treasured up the memento of their former tyrant.
The animal, or reptile, thus preserved, is undoubtedly
of the crocodile or alligator species, although I regret
it was not in my power to examine it more particularly,
evening having set in when I saw it in the arched
passage leading to the town-hall of the city where
it has been suspended. I fear also that any attempt
to count the distinguishing bones would be fruitless,
the scaly back having been covered with a too liberal
supply of pitch, with the view to protection from
the weather.

Have any of your readers seen this Lindwurm
under more favourable circumstances than myself, and
can they throw any light on the genus to which it
belongs?

May not the various legends respecting dragons, &c.,
have their origin from similar circumstances to those
of this Bruenn Lindwurm, which I take to leave strong
proof of fact, the body being there? Perhaps some
of our correspondents may have it in their power to
give further corroborative evidence of the former
existence of dragons under the shape of crocodiles.
The description of the Wantley dragon tallies with
that of the crocodile very nearly.

R.S., Jun.

* * * *
*

JOAN SANDERSON, OR THE CUSHION DANCE; AND BAB AT THE BOWSTER.

Can any of your numerous valuable correspondents give
me the correct date, or any clue to it, of the above
dance. There is little doubt of its great antiquity.
The dance is begun by a single person (either a woman
or man), who {518} dances about the room with a cushion
in his hand, and at the end of the tune stops and
sings:

“This dance it will no further
go!”

[The Musician answers.]

“I pray you, good sir, why
say you so?”

[Man.]

“Because Joan Sanderson will
not come to!”

[Music.]

“She must come to, and she
shall come to,
And she must come whither she will or no.”

He now lays down the cushion before a woman, on which
she kneels, and he kisses her, singing:

“Welcome, Joan Sanderson,
welcome, welcome.”

She rises with the cushion, and both dance about,
singing:

“Prinkum-prankum is a fine
dance,
And shall we go dance it once again,
And once again,
And shall we go dance it once again?”

Then making a stop, the woman sings, as before:

“This dance it will no further
go!”

[Music.]

“I pray you, madam, why say
you so?”

[Woman.]

“Because John Sanderson will
not come to.”

[Music.]

“He must come to,”
&c.

And so she lays down the cushion before a man, who,
kneeling, upon it, salutes her, she singing: